Sunday, February 1, 2009

How to Establish a Budget for your Bathroom Renovation.

By Chet Lystrom

You cannot complete a bathroom renovation project without first determining your budget. You are the only one who can determine how much money you can afford to spend on the remodeling project and will need to research to determine how much work can be done for the available cash.

Your time should also be considered and if you will lose more money from taking time off work to contract the job on your own than it would cost to pay a contractor, you may as well pay them to take on some of the headaches.

Remember to include the cost of any permits, subcontractors and inspectors that you'll need to start and complete your bathroom renovation project. Some states require certain permits and inspections for certain renovation work, like plumbing and electricals.

For you own safety it is a good plan and may even be required for plumbing work beyond the fixtures. If you don't have the expertise or knowledge to, say, cut and lay tiles you may want to hire out that task to a professional to ensure a quality finished product.

What Should You Do Yourself?

Even if you hire a contractor, there may be some parts of the labor work you can perform that can save money on the bathroom renovation project. For example, the clean up at the end of every work day. You should discuss the clean-up aspects of your particular bathroom renovation project with your contractor and decide on the most cost-effective and safe disposal arrangements.

A homeowner can install new light fixtures without having to obtain a license to do so. A professional electrician might be required if any rewiring is required. Your contractor can help you determine which parts of your bathroom renovation project you can complete on your own to save money.

Typically, homeowners will hand over the entire project to a contractor and their only responsibility is to sign the checks to pay for the job. However, tracking progress and dealing straight with the bathroom renovation contractor can help ensure the job is done on time and within budget. - 15252

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